Allrounders!! - Chapter 12: What's with this Brat? (I Got Scolded) - Part 1

T/N: This chapter is more than twice as long as usual, so splitting it into two parts.

{Sword}

This lil' shit closed the distance in an instant, just to aim at my wrist. Sure I didn't take him serious, but it ain't like I was careless or anythin' like that. And yet it looked like my defenses wouldn't be in time thanks to his astoundin' speed and precision.

...Yep, just as I thought, he ain't no ordinary youth. I'm damn sure that this can't be that noble lady Indra, leavin' the question, who's this guy, or rather, "what" is he...?

...No, he's gotta be a human after all. He's fightin' with a proper style after all. This is also the reason why I'm able to pull through with some leeway, though.

I deliberately led the battle into a lockin' of swords in order to take a look at his power. ...But this part truly surprised me.

...We're friggin' even in strength! Moreover, magic elements are swellin' up in him!

What a blunder. Didn't expect him to be this strong. This crude piece of wood won't hold out much longer either.

I swiftly recited a spell to raise my physical abilities, and send him flyin'. The brat's body went airborne, and his torso became defenseless as he threw up his hands in response to bein' sent flying. The instant I swung my stick horizontally, tryin' to land a hit on his unprotected belly, that pipsqueak kicked up my wrist with superb timin'!

"Ughh!"

...Fuck, the bones might be broken.

The brat landed, and even while staggering, closed the distance right away...

"Wait, I give up. Let's end this here."

He stopped at the last moment. Seein' how he's come to a halt, I swiftly take out a healin' potion, chug it down, and get ready for the next set of attacks, but...

"I see. ...So, what do you think? Does it look like I could become an adventurer? Or do I still lack strength?" He asked casually after releasin' his combat stance, makin' me wonder what I should do about this...

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"...Now listen, let me get this straight first. ――You! Completely and utterly! Lack anythin' resemblin' common sense!!!"

Eeehh...?

"You don't really have to stress it so much..."

"I felt like sayin' it! No matter how much you trained by yourself, and even if you say you got not one to consult with, there's a friggin' limit for everything!! Why the hell would you think you lack strength!?!"

That's why I told you that I don't know about other people.

"Rather, how the fuck did you become so strong!? Speed, power, and everythin' else ain't nowhere near the level of a brat! On the contrary, even a grown man wouldn't be able to pull this off!!"

Ah, so it's as I thought after all. Since this world is a fantasy, I thought around this much would be commonplace though.

"...I vaguely sensed that it's weird."

"Vaguely!?!"

He spat out a deep sigh.

"...You human?"

He asked...

Did he think that I came here on a spaceship from some veggie planet? I don't have a tail, you know?

"...I don't get the meaning behind your question, but the one who gave birth to me was human, I think. Though she pulled faces like a devil, and her way of treating me was just like that of a devil as well... The man, hmm...for better or worse, it's clear that one of the men she partnered with is a human, but most likely only the woman who gave birth to me knows the full truth. But since she's already dead, it'll remain an unresolved mystery for eternity."

This made him dumbfounded. Then he spat out another deep sigh.

"...Gotcha. Well, means your an outstandin' kid. But! Without any common sense!"

Once again he labeled me like that.

"Common sense doesn't matter as long as I don't get involved with people. ...Anyway, does it seem like I could become an adventurer?"

"Your belief that you ain't goin' to have anythin' to do with people as adventurer is already perfect proof of your lackin' common sense."

Whaa! Looks like it's necessary after all. And it looks like my dream of becoming an adventurer might fall through because of lacking common sense rather than lacking ability!

Watching me brood, he scratched his head.

"...Well, this is gotta be some kind of fate. If your sayin' you wanna become an adventurer, I'll look after you for a bit. Also, you seem like you’d be a great trainin' partner."

...or so he told me!

"...Despite pulling a face like a gangster, you're an unexpectedly nice person."

When I praised him like that, "Who's a gangster here!? Rather, you really have no common sense whatsoever!"

I got scolded.

"So? Training over with this?" He asked.

Shaking my head, I answered, "We already worked out so the physical training has been covered. It's about time for lunch now, and afterwards it's going to be training in magic arts until evening, I'd say."

"Eating lunch? How refined."

Is it?

"...Not eating lunch would fine as well, but I've reassessed that it'd be better to eat three meals during my childhood for my body to develop properly."

"...You know....your quite cheeky, no, it's more like I'm dealin' with a geezer who's been 'round for many, many years." He told me and added while he was at it, "So, lunch, was it? You mentioned that you could also aspire to become a cook, didn't you? Then let me have a taste."

"Ehh."

"Whoa, you look so totally 'gainst it."

"I'm not aspiring to become a cook. Besides, good adults don't sponge off children."

"This is why I've been tellin' you that your cheeky. Just let me get this straight for you who's got no common sense, that was no praise, 'kay?"

"I know, I know. Today you taught me various things, so let's make this your reward. And while we are at it, please teach me a bit about common sense. Also, wash yourself. You stink like a skunk."

"...Is it just me, or is your treatment of me gradually becomin' crude and unrestrained?"

I won't deny that part, but he still stinks.

The man suddenly threw his eyes wide open.

"...Ah, I got it! You sure are pretty neat considerin' your filthy outfit, aren't you?"

"I've been washing myself here every day. Since no one came here...well, until you showed up at least...I washed my body outside."

"...Here? In these woods?"

He restlessly looked around himself.

"It's because I can also use soap and scrub. Let's wash our bodies before eating lunch. The smell is going to waste all the good food."

He looked at me, super unwilling to go through with this.

"Gotcha. Still, your not lovable at all," he barked.

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{Sword}

When the brat told me to take off my clothes, I looked suspiciously at her, asking, "What about the water?"

"I'm going to produce it right away."

He said, followed by rain startin' to fall at a spot slightly away from me.

"Hah!?"

...Don't tell me...

"Wet your body by letting that pour down on you. Once you're wet, step out for a moment, and use this. Smear this on your body. For your hair, use this over here. Spread this on your hands and rub it against your head. Then you wipe your body, but not the face, with this cloth!"

While I was completely flabbergasted 'bout him bein' able to use magic, this n' that was pushed into my hands. Since I was pestered to take off my clothes while I was still dazed, I surrendered myself to the unavoidable, took off my gear and headed over to the spot he'd pointed at.

Water was rainin' down from above at a place beneath interwoven branches...

"The hell!? This water is warm!!"

"Even during the hot seasons your body can get chilled when bathing in cold water, right? All the more so out here. ...Aww, you're really a lost case, sheesh. I'm going to show you how to do it, so watch!"

He said and started to take off his clothes. Havin' become stark naked, his body was astonishingly white, slender, and...

"You were a girl!?"

...womanly.

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